Canadians' COVID-19 concerns: I think I'm sick, now what?

TORONTO --
As the number of COVID-19 cases increases in Canada, an infectious disease expert explains what to do if you think you have symptoms.

Initial symptoms of the new coronavirus are very similar to the flu or cold and include fever, cough and difficulty breathing, Dr. Lisa Barrett explained to CTV’s Your Morning what patients should do if they suspect they have the illness.

“If you have those symptoms, a fever and a cough, the best thing to do is reach out to your local health authorities across the country… and figure out what the next steps are,” she said.

It is “key”, unless in an emergency, “to not run to your nearest emergency room,” she added.

Dr. Barrett emphasized the importance of patients getting further advice from their provincial health authority on what to do next, “especially if they think they need to be tested or if they want to know more about what to do in terms of self-isolation and social distancing.”

On the advice of local health authorities helplines, presumptive cases may be sent to assessment centres set up near hospitals across the country, Dr. Barrett explained.

“Right now we are really focused in Canada on making sure we have enough tests for people that need them,” she said.

“But not everybody necessarily will need to be tested and that’s why the assessment centres are there to make sure everyone is doing OK from a health perspective, but also to determine who exactly needs one of the tests for coronavirus or other respiratory viruses.”

Most test samples from around the country are sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg for final testing, with the exception of Quebec.

Dr. Barrett advised against calling a hospital directly for suspected cases of coronavirus, which could put a drain on health resources. She urged people to take “civic responsibility” and not just show up at an emergency department.

“Calling hospitals directly is going to cause a real stress on our systems and it’s not going to get you the answers you need,” she said.

“On each province’s ministry of health website, public health website or your health authority website there are easy to find numbers that tell you where to call to get the best information at this time for coronavirus.”

The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that people who feel ill and have to visit a doctor call ahead to tell that they have a respiratory illness.

“If you have travelled abroad and you develop fever, cough or difficulty breathing in the next 14 days, isolate yourself within the home as quickly as possible,” the advice reads.